Domani
The Domani people (singular Dom; sometimes Roma, Rom, or Domari), along with the closely related S'danzo people, are commonly known as Gypsies in Common. They are a traditionally nomadic human culture who originated in northern Kravonia, but currently live across the baronies, chiefly in Bowcourt, Sanctuary and western Ranke. Most Domani speak some form of Domani, a language closely related to the dead Old Kravonian language, but usually speak the dominant language of the region they live in as well.
History
The Domani are believed to have left Kravonia about 800 Pre-Penjari, and to have passed through the intervening countries on foot. People recognizable by other Domani as Dom still live as far east as Lunar, including some who made the migration to the baronies, and returned. By the founding of the Western kingdom (0 WK), the Domani had reached Eltrandor, and by 400 WK, Destiny and Flugelheim. Some Domani migrated south through Azuria to Raniterre.
The reason for the diaspora of the Domani is one of the great mysteries of history. It has been proposed by some scholars that the Domani were originally low-caste Kravonians recruited into an army of mercenaries, whereupon they were granted status, and sent westwards to resist military expansion. Another theory is that they were captives taken as slaves by Arabie conquerors of coastal Kravonia, and that they became a distinct community in their lands of captivity.
People
Estimates suggest that there are approximately 50 to 100 thousand Domani in the baronies. The largest concentrations of Roma are found in the Sanctuary peninsula of western Ranke, in central Aladar, southern Bowcourt, and in Tuscana. Smaller numbers are scattered throughout western Alusia, the Inland Sea, and North Azuria.
The Domani recognize divisions among themselves with some sense of territoriality, emphasized by certain cultural and dialectal differences. There may be three main confederations:
- the Gitanos (also called Calé), mostly in Tuscana, Waterford, and southern Bowcourt; coppersmiths and tinkers.
- the S'danzo, mostly in western Ranke and Sanctuary; traditional fortune-tellers, and often with powerful second-sight.
- the Domani (Dom'nies) mostly in Aquila, Aladar, and Brandenburg; strong in the arts of entertainment, often travelling showmen and circus people.
Each of these main divisions are further divided into two or more subgroups distinguished by occupational specialization or territorial origin, or both. A stereotype that all Domani have second-sight is partially valid, and some academics attribute the invention of the Wicca Tarot cards to them.
Lifestyle
Because of their nomadic lifestyle and unwillingness to be integrated, there has always been a great deal of mutual distrust between the Domani and their more settled neighbours. They were, and frequently still are, popularly believed to be gypsies, tramps, and thieves unfit for sedentary labour, resulting in a great deal of persecution. The Roma have sometimes accepted among themselves outsiders from mainstream society.
Where possible, many Domani continue their nomadic lifestyle, travelling in caravans, but in many situations in southern Bowcourt, they live in depressed squatter communities with very high unemployment. In some cases — notably the Gitano clan in Tuscana, who work as traditional coppersmiths — they have prospered.
To this day, there are still clashes between the Domani and the sedentary population around them. Common complaints are that Domani steal and live off church charity, and residents often reject Domani encampments. Severe population pressures and the paucity of greenfield sites have led to Domani purchasing land from merchants, and setting up residential settlements almost overnight, thus subverting the social restrictions imposed on other freemen by their overlords.
Well Known Domani
- Illyra S'Danzo of Sanctuary, the greatest of the living Sanctuary Seers. Illyra has true-sight, unlike many astrologers. When working, she applies thick kohl and make-up, and masses of shapeless clothing so as to appear as an "old crone", the expected appearance for a seeress. She lives in the Bazaar, with her blacksmith husband. She is respected by the powers of Sanctuary for the knowledge and foresight that she has, and that they can buy for silver.
Domani society
The traditional Domani place a high value on the extended family. Virginity is essential in unmarried women. Both men and women often marry young; there has been controversy in several countries over Domani children getting married under the legal age of consent. Some even parallel Domani arranged marriage practices with slavery.
Domani law establishes that the man's family must pay the dowry to the bride's parents. Domani social behaviour is strictly regulated by purity laws ("marime"), still respected by most Domani (except the few PoL worshippers) and among S'danzo groups by the elder generations. This regulation affects many aspects of life, and is applied to actions, people and things: parts of the human body are considered impure: the genital organs, because they produce impure emissions, and the lower body. Fingernails and toenails must be filed with an emory board, as cutting them with a clipper is taboo.
Religion
It has been suggested that originally the Domani people worshiped the Old God Vashanka. Nowadays, this is an obscure cult practised only within Sanctuary. Domani usually have adopted the dominant religion of the host country but often keep their particular ways of believing and worshipping.
Domani music
In addition to their own music, which is very relevant within the folk traditions, the Domani have had and still maintain, a prominent role in the evolution of mainstream music and dance.
